Liberal, Kan.— Kansas nurses now can advance their careers at home, thanks to an innovative agreement between 18 Kansas community colleges, including Seward County Community College/Area Technical School, and the University of Kansas School of Nursing. The agreement allows nurses with an associate’s degree in nursing from a participating college to easily transition to receive their bachelor of science in nursing, KU’s online RN-to-BSN program.
“Health care today is increasingly demanding bachelor’s-prepared nurses,” said Karen Miller, RN, Ph.D., FAAN, dean of the KU School of Nursing. “We want to ensure that Kansas’ nursing workforce can meet that demand, but that the state’s nurses can earn an affordable bachelor’s degree without having to leave their home community.”

If you are a Facebook fan, learn more about the Seward County Community College/Area Technical School Foundation Party Auction Saturday, Sept. 22. Go to Facebook and search for SCCC/ATS Foundation.
See what exciting items will be featured at the auction this year.
Tickets for the auction, which are $25 per person, are now on sale. Tickets must be purchased in advance by Thursday, Sept. 20. Tickets may be purchased by credit card by calling 620-417-1131, online at alumni.sccc.edu or at SCCC/ATS at 1801 N. Kansas in Liberal.
Proceeds from the auction provide scholarships for SCCC/ATS students.
This year childcare is provided by Saints Cheer and Dance Squad for $5 per child. Call 620-626-5878 for reservations.

The Kansas Small Business Development Center at Seward County Community College/Area Technical School will present a three-hour workshop, providing information on starting a small business. The free workshop, “Steps to Startup,” will run from 6-9 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 27 in SW229 D on the second floor of the Student Activities Center, 1801 N. Kansas, Liberal.
The workshop will outline the necessary and fundamental steps in starting and operating a small business. Information on grants and financing, licensing, business plans and feasibility are among the topics that will be covered.
Although the workshop is free, pre-registration is required. Information and registration are available by contacting the KSBDC at 620-417-1955 or mike.okane@sccc.edu.
The KSBDC is a partnership program with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Kansas Department of Commerce.

The Seward County Community College/Area Technical School Respiratory Therapy program completed an annual review process with the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) and has met or exceeded its “thresholds” for success on each required outcome.
The threshold levels are based on program graduate and employer satisfaction surveys, as well as credentialing success and job placement data. SCCC/ATS respiratory therapy students are employed in healthcare facilities throughout the United States as well as providing more than 90 percent of employed respiratory therapists within 150 miles of Liberal.
The program was also recently notified of CoARC approval for a new curriculum revision, which allows the completion of science, algebra, and other general education courses prior to admission to the newly revised program with the start date now in the spring semester each year. This change will allow an additional 176 hours of clinical education experience in partnering clinical facilities while maintaining a 24-month Associate in Applied Science degree program.
The SCCC/ATS respiratory therapy program currently affiliates with healthcare facilities in Liberal, Garden City, Dodge City, Ulysses, Meade, Hugoton, Pratt, Hays, Guymon, Amarillo, and Lubbock, Texas.
The 2012 Annual Report of Current Status and Resource Assessment Matrix was submitted for approval to the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) to determine ongoing compliance with accreditation Standards and CoARC Accreditation Policies and Procedures.
The Commission commended the staff for their commitment to continuous quality improvement in education, as demonstrated by their participation in programmatic accreditation.
Program staff include Ed Anderson, Respiratory Therapy instructor/coordinator and Ken Killion, clinical coordinator/instructor.

Seward County Community College/Area Technical School is inviting the public to a come-and-go brunch, 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 30, in the SCCC/ATS Student Union, 1801 N. Kansas, Liberal.
The cost is $7 per person and includes student entertainment.

Seward County Community College/Area Technical School invites the public to an open forum as part of its accreditation visit through the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
The public forum is scheduled for 3:30 on Monday, Sept. 24 in room 229 of the Student Activities Building on the SCCC/ATS campus, 1801 N. Kansas.
Accreditation reviewers from Des Moines Community College and Independence Community College will facilitate the forum.
SCCC/ATS is a participating college in the Academic Quality Improvement Project through the Higher Learning Commission and the site visit is designed to provide insight as to the achievements the college has attained toward continuous improvement in student learning, operational effectiveness and efficiencies.
The review team will provide a report of their findings at a public meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25 in the Showcase Theater in the Shank Humanities Building on the SCCC/ATS campus.

Join us for an evening of food, beverages, student entertainment and a live and silent auction at the 18th annual Seward County Community College/Area Technical School Foundation Party Auction Saturday, Sept. 22.
This year’s theme is “A Night of Good Fortune” and promises to be a fun-filled evening complete with a wide variety of live and silent auction items. The food will include pulled pork, brisket, potatoes, vegetables, desserts and a touch of oriental.
Tickets for the auction, which are $25 per person, are now on sale. Tickets must be purchased in advance by Thursday, Sept. 20. Tickets may be purchased by credit card by calling 620-417-1131 or online at The Community Bank; Sunflower Bank; Byron Bird & Associates; KSCB; Scantlin’s Furniture; Al Shank Insurance; The Liberal Light; Mortgages Unlimited; First National Bank of Liberal; Southwest Agri Center (Kismet); Bank of Beaver City, Liberal/Turpin; Yoxall Antrim Yoxall Fitzgerald & McCaffrey; Versus Signs, Seward County Community College/Area Technical School; or from SCCC/ATS Foundation board members.

The 2012 Measurement and Pipeline Institute is scheduled for Sept. 11-12 at the Seward County Event Center in Liberal, Kansas.
For 60 years, the combined institute for measurement and pipeline has proven ideal for field operators, technicians, maintenance crews, production supervisors and superintendents. The institute features a variety of lectures, discussions, demonstrations, hands-on sessions and industry exhibits to inform participants about the maintenance and operation of measurement and pipeline equipment. Exhibitors will also display products that are on the cutting edge of technology for the measurement and pipeline industry.